Sputnik 1

2004

On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launches Sputnik 1 — the first artificial satellite. It carries no instruments except two radio transmitters broadcasting on 20.005 and 40.002 MHz so amateur radio operators worldwide can pick up its beep-beep-beep tone. Communication satellites become a real concept overnight. The subject dates from 1957; this photograph was taken in 2004.